A question about miso...
Posted by dannibazaar on Jun 05, 2010 · Member since May 2009 · 547 posts
I was just wondering if anyone else was sensitive to miso paste. I've tried to make quite a few recipes with my white miso, but every time I've tried I get nauseous and a major stomach ache. Is is bad or something, or am I just sensitive to it? Would I benefit more from a darker miso...I really want to enjoy it, but I just can't :-\
is it possibly the salt content? too much salt at one time can make you nauseous/stomach ache and have muscle cramps... it's happened to me =(
It could be the salt...unless you are sensitive to other forms of soy? Do you get the same reaction from soysauce?
According to Jo Stepniak it is supposed to keep for a year in the fridge sealed air-tight.
Could be the salt like they mentioned, but it wouldn't hurt to try another kind. I've tried soy, brown rice miso and chickpea miso with good results. Love the stuff, but with the intense salty flavor you gotta take it easy (2 tsp or less is all I use for several servings of whatever I'm making)
the darker miso tastes even saltier... if salt is the problem, then i wouldn't even go in that direction...
i have a soy sensitivity but only get barfy sick when i eat a ton of soy dominated products throughout the day, I haven't had a problem with miso... yet
It must be the salt. I have no other soy sensitivities. I guess I'll just have to avoid it then :( darn.
If you're using a small amount in a recipe, I would doubt it's the salt. If you're eating it straight, maybe the salt could be a problem, but in a recipe you've probably had other things that are similarly salty just by adding table salt, or soy sauce.
I think some people can be sensitive to fermented foods, but I can't seem to find an authoritative explanation. If you haven't had problems with other foods such as soy sauce or tempeh, I would say that's probably not it. You might try some other things with miso (miso soup at a Japanese restaurant, maybe?) before you jump to any conclusions.
My guess would be that you have a bad batch. There is always the possibility that food poisoning bacteria could get into packaged foods during production or packaging. Some bacteria would give off a bad smell, but others won't so you can't really tell.
That also could very well be. Because even the smallest amount of the miso will give me a stomach ache...and it does smell pretty bad. So it really could be a bad batch. I wasn't really sure what to expect because it was my first (and only) time buying it. Another question...is white miso supposed to smell like yeast? Because mine does...
Mine just smells salty... i dunno about yeasty
I don't think it smells yeasty... I'd toss it. Buy another one and give it a go.
I shall then. Just as a general opinion, is a darker or a lighter miso better (I know, I know, personal preferance, but I would like some general opinions on what tastes better)
I shall then. Just as a general opinion, is a darker or a lighter miso better (I know, I know, personal preferance, but I would like some general opinions on what tastes better)
I use both for different things. White has a milder flavor.
I'm pretty sure yeast is used to ferment miso, so perhaps it is just overly fermented? I could see that leading to stomach problems. Probably better to toss it and get a fresh package. Maybe try a different brand, too, if one is available. The only kind I've tried so far is white/shiro miso, in an "uncheese" recipe, so I can't advise on varieties.
That's why I originally got the white miso, for uncheese recipes. I suppose I shall pick up a different brand next time I hit up the supermarket.
I like the white more... the dark isn't bad or anything, just saltier IMO
i love the mellow brown rice miso. it's the only kind ive ever gotten but i like how rich the flavor is, i don't think of it as being super salty.
What about chickpea miso? Have you ever tried that?
BTW miso is not fermented with yeast...it is fermented with a different culture. There's a cute, weird little anime series about a lab tech who can "talk" to the miso culture. Not surprisingly, he has all kinds of trouble getting his lady crush to notice him... ;)b
There's a cute, weird little anime series about a lab tech who can "talk" to the miso culture. Not surprisingly, he has all kinds of trouble getting his lady crush to notice him... ;)b
lol! It must have just been the batch that I got. I threw it out, bought some more (same brand...) and it was just fine. Weirdness.